Choi Tae-won Visits Leaders of Four Ruling and Opposition Parties: "Please Bring a Fresh Breeze to Our Economy"

Strengthening Communication for Economic Bill Passage
Han Dong-hoon, Lee Jae-myung, Cho Kuk, Heo Eun-ah Visit
"Economic Sector Also Strives for Gap Reduction and Opportunity Creation"

Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Chairman of SK Group), visited the National Assembly on the 5th and met with Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, saying, "The regular session of the National Assembly has opened with a cool breeze to beat the heat," and added, "We expect this to bring a refreshing breeze to our economy as well."

Handonghun, leader of the People Power Party, is greeting Choi Taewon, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who visited the National Assembly on the 5th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

On the same day, Chairman Choi met with the leaders of the four ruling and opposition parties to mark the start of the 22nd regular session of the National Assembly. This is interpreted as an effort to strengthen communication for the passage of economic bills amid difficult economic conditions.

Chairman Choi said, "As the phrase 'narrow the gap and expand opportunities' suggests, the business community will also strive to reduce disparities and create new opportunities," adding, "The business environment is not easy. The national competition surrounding advanced industries is becoming increasingly fierce, and there are many challenges such as carbon neutrality. We ask the National Assembly to support us so that we can become a stronger team and win medals in this national competition like Olympic athletes."

In addition to Leader Han, Chairman Choi met with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Cho Guk, leader of the Innovation Party, and Heo Eun-ah, leader of the Reform Party. It is reported that he conveyed the business community’s hope that the ruling and opposition parties will quickly address economic bills from the perspective of national interest, overcoming their existing differences during this regular session.

Previously, key issues requested by the business community to the 21st National Assembly, such as the extension of the tax credit period for investment in advanced industries and the introduction of a direct refund system (Special Tax Treatment Control Act), and the construction of power infrastructure (Special Act on Expansion of National Institution Power Grids), were discarded due to the expiration of the session. The business community hopes that the 22nd National Assembly will revisit these bills.

Chairman Chey Tae-won of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry is meeting and conversing with Cho Kuk, leader of the Innovation Party, at the National Assembly on the 5th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Also, although special bills to support the semiconductor industry have been proposed by both ruling and opposition parties, they have not passed the National Assembly. In particular, since strategic industries are fiercely competitive among countries and receive full support from each nation to the extent that they are called 'national competitions,' it is necessary to promptly legislate support bills for advanced industries to actively support companies.

Meanwhile, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been actively strengthening communication with the National Assembly since the opening of the 22nd National Assembly. On June 3rd, it held a reception to welcome the 22nd National Assembly members, pledging cooperation and communication with about 100 lawmakers, including floor leaders from both ruling and opposition parties. On the 23rd of last month, it held a meeting with Speaker Woo Won-shik to propose tasks for enhancing corporate competitiveness and regional issues and difficulties for balanced regional development.

Park Il-jun, Executive Vice Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, "The economic issues before us now must be resolved beyond conflicts and disagreements with a focus on national interest, and advanced industries require teamwork the most. For this, communication among stakeholders is paramount," adding, "The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry will continue to create many opportunities for communication and faithfully convey the voices of the people and companies to the National Assembly, the hall of public opinion."